FREEHOLD – The Democratic candidate for Monmouth County Sheriff blasted Sheriff Shaun Golden on Monday, but Republicans questioned his venue of choice.

Democratic candidate and Freehold attorney Ruben Scolavino went on the offensive, publicly calling out Golden, the Republican incumbent, for proceeding with the Sheriff Department’s accreditation while an investigation into alleged pension double-dipping continues.

“I want to make sure this is not a rubber stamp,” Scolavino said. “I think it should be reaccredited under the right circumstances.”

Scolavino attacked Golden for changing several high ranking officers’ job titles, responsibilities, alleging the changes were made in order to allow their continued receipt of salaries in addition to a pension.

Every three years, the law enforcement, corrections and communications divisions of the Sheriff Department go through an accreditation process involving a public hearing.

It's a process that has nothing to do with the department’s pension recipients, Golden said.

“The pensions don’t have any bearing on the accreditation process,” Golden said. “It speaks to my opponent’s lack of law enforcement experience, and I won’t let his negative comments disparage the hard work of the staff of the law enforcement division.”

Scolavino used a Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement public information session, part of their on-site assessment for the law enforcement division’s accreditation, to air his concerns.

"Sheriff Shaun Golden has rigged the system so that employees could collect a salary while still collecting a pension. He has abused Monmouth County taxpayers and needs to be held accountable." Scolavino said. “Shaun Golden has failed to meet the high standards set by the Commission. His behavior has cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and eroded their trust in his leadership.”

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Scolavino urged the Commission to withhold accreditation pending the results of the ongoing investigation.

Golden said Scolavino was playing political games with an apolitical process..

“I was disappointed he brought politics into what was an operational inspection,” Golden said. “It is a review of our policies and procedures – and we’re one of a handful of agencies across the country that have a triple crown rating between our law enforcement, communications and corrections division.”

Freeholder candidate Brian Froelich also criticized Golden for not attending Monday’s meeting, but Sheriff’s aren’t allowed to attend the public information portion of the accreditation process lest they discourage or chill any critical comments.